ALBUM REVIEW: Rachel Taylor Brown, “Falimy”

Rob Ross has been, for good, bad or indifferent, involved in the music industry for over 30 years - first as guitarist/singer/songwriter with The Punch Line, then as freelance journalist, producer and manager to working for independent and major record labels. He resides in Staten Island, New York with his wife and cats; he works out a lot, reads voraciously, loves Big Star and his orange Gretsch. Doesn't that make him neat?

Falimy, the 9th album from Portland, Oregon’s Rachel Taylor Brown is awash in melody, almost a study in classic mid-’60’s songwriting: structural shifts, key changes, orchestration and most of all, skilled lyrics. From the first drop of the needle (or the laser, if you’re so inclined), you automatically find yourself on a psychological ride filled with humor, wryness and at times, disappointment with the human condition (“…trying to get to Buddha, there’s a woman in the way…”).

The first two tracks, “We’ll Have A” and “Mt. Athos” are back to back winners; “We’ll…” for it’s construction and “Mt. Athos” for its lyrics and ballsy-ness. “Me Hurting You” reminds me of a humorous Tori Amos track; “Litany Of The Family” is an acapella takeoff on a Gregorian chant and “Family” has a Beach Boys-type of feel, albeit in a very-stripped down fashion.

All in all, a solid album – I’m curious to now work my way back through her catalog.